Twitter, now X, to remove blocking feature - Musk

 

In a series of tweets, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has criticized Twitter for its decision to remove the blocking feature from its platform. According to Musk, this move will make Twitter more like X, a social network that he has previously denounced as a "cesspool of hate and misinformation".

Musk argued that blocking is a fundamental right of users who want to avoid harassment, abuse, and spam. He said that without blocking, Twitter will become a "toxic echo chamber" where users are exposed to unwanted opinions and attacks. He also claimed that Twitter is violating its own terms of service by removing the feature.

Musk has been a vocal critic of X, a social network that has been accused of hosting extremist content and spreading conspiracy theories. He has repeatedly urged his followers to delete their accounts on X and join other platforms that respect free speech and privacy. He has also expressed his support for Signal, an encrypted messaging app that he said is superior to WhatsApp.

Musk's tweets have sparked a heated debate among his fans and critics. Some have praised him for standing up for user rights and challenging Twitter's authority. Others have accused him of being hypocritical and elitist, saying that he is trying to silence dissenting voices and impose his views on others.

Twitter has not responded to Musk's comments yet. The company announced last week that it was removing the blocking feature as part of a redesign aimed at making the platform more user-friendly and engaging. Twitter said that blocking was an outdated and ineffective tool that created a false sense of security and did not prevent users from seeing or interacting with blocked accounts. Instead, Twitter said it was introducing new features such as mute, hide, and report, which would give users more control over their experience.

Microsoft makes new bid to unblock Call of Duty deal

Microsoft has announced a new proposal to address the antitrust concerns raised by its planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the maker of popular video games such as Call of Duty, Overwatch and World of Warcraft.

The tech giant said it would create a separate gaming division within its organization, which would operate independently from its other businesses and have its own leadership, budget and strategy. Microsoft also said it would commit to maintaining fair and reasonable licensing terms for Activision Blizzard's games and platforms, and to preserving the creative autonomy and diversity of its studios and employees.

Microsoft's offer comes after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit last week to block the $68.7 billion deal, arguing that it would harm competition and innovation in the gaming industry. The FTC said that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard would give it control over some of the most popular and profitable games in the world, and that it would reduce the incentives for Microsoft and its rivals to invest in new and innovative games.

Microsoft has defended its deal as pro-competitive and pro-consumer, saying that it would bring more choice, quality and value to gamers across different devices and platforms. The company also said that it would continue to support cross-play and cross-progression features, which allow gamers to play with and against each other regardless of the hardware or software they use.

The deal, which was announced in January, is expected to close in mid-2022, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. If completed, it would be the largest acquisition in Microsoft's history and one of the biggest deals ever in the gaming sector.